By Football Talk.
Liverpool are bracing themselves after reports in Spain and Italy suggest Real Madrid and newly crowned European Champions Inter Milan are lining up bids for Captain Steven Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres. Liverpool fans will be getting used to this type of speculation by now as both have been linked with big-money moves following a disappointing 2010 campaign for the Reds. But with continued uncertainty over manager Rafa Benitez’s position and the current owners trying to sell the club, it seems Madrid and Milan are hoping to take advantage of Liverpool’s vulnerable situation.
Mourinho looks to Gerrard
Spanish newspapers are once again linking Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard with a move to Real Madrid this summer. The daily Marca claims that new Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, who is a known admirer of Gerrard after coming close to signing him while at Chelsea, has set his sights on Gerrard being his first major signing.
Only last week, Mourinho admitted he is looking for an all-round midfielder and even mentioned Lampard and Gerrard as the type of player he was looking for. Now the Spanish press are saying that with Rafa Benitez likely to stay on as Liverpool boss next season, Madrid can capitalise on Gerrard’s frosty relationship with the Spaniard and persuade him to leave the club he has represented his entire career for a new challenge in Spain.
If Benitez does remain at Anfield, he is highly unlikely to want to lose his captain as he looks to rebuild after a disastrous 2010 season. However, the report highlights Liverpool’s desperate need to raise funds due to their financial difficulties and sees this as another reason they might be forced into a selling one of their prized assets.
Inter line-up £70m Torres
Inter Milan are preparing a £70m bid for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, but only if new Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho manages to sign either Diego Milito or Samuel Eto’o, according to reports in Italy.
It is understood that Mourinho is keen to take Milito to Madrid but should the Argentine be unavailable, he will move for Eto’o. Should either of them follow Jose to Madrid, Inter will then make their move for Torres who has cast uncertainty over his Anfield future after refusing to commit to the club after the World Cup.
He said: ‘The more important thing for me now is the World Cup. My future is the World Cup, We’ll see later.’
Both Chelsea and Manchester City have been linked with a £70m move for the Spaniard in recent weeks. But Milan are hoping that Torres’s affection for Liverpool will make it too difficult for him to move to another premier league side, preferring instead to move abroad should he decide to leave Anfield.
